Giant from Coalville is British bareknuckle boxing champion
UNANIMOUS
TYRONE Eliffe was crowned the British bareknuckle boxing champion after coming through a blood-soaked battle in London.
The Coalville giant was paired with Eryk Majda for the vacant British light-heavyweight belt at the O2 Arena and the fight got off to the worst possible start for him.
Eliffe, at 6ft 8¾ in tall, towered over the Scot, but inside the opening minute he picked up a gruesome cut around his right eye that left his face covered in blood.
He went on to land the best punch of the round in the dying seconds, a right uppercut that sent shivers down the Scot’s legs, and raised his fists in triumph at the end of the round.
The cut didn’t trouble Eliffe as his corner stopped the bleeding and he went on to dominate the rest of the five-round fight, leaving Majda’s left eye badly swollen with pinpoint jabs.
Eliffe, 27, was close to tears after he won a unanimous decision.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Bryan thanked his Leicester fans after he made a stunning start to his bareknuckle boxing career on the same show.
The 28-year-old was chucked in at the deep end on his debut with promoter BKB TM.
Coming out of the other corner at the Indigo at O2 Arena was George Hillyard, a seasoned bareknuckle boxer who had a long professional gloved career as well.
They fought over five rounds and Bryan edged a split decision that left Hillyard fuming.
Bryan, who offered the Canning Town veteran a rematch afterwards, said: “George was tough and kept coming forward, but I was comfortable on the back foot and I was landing the jab.”
Bryan went into the fight saying he had never been dropped in his combat career and his chin was chested by the Londoner, particularly in the closing rounds.
But Bryan settled quickly behind his jab and was ahead on all three judges’ scorecards after two rounds.
The third was closer and Bryan went back to his stool at the bell with blood dripping from his mouth.
The fourth was a hard round for both as they shipped some heavy blows and the fight was level on the scorecards going into the final round.
However, Bryan had more in the tank for the last two minutes and jabbed his way to a memorable points win.